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I recall times I've visited Las Vegas. If there is a convention in town, you can count on hotel rates being quite a bit higher. I've seen rates double over night when a big convention hits town. I guess it's just business as usual for Gillette, also.

Just curious

What were hotel/motel rooms going for in the West Bend area during the most recent MOA Rally? And how do those rates compare to "off" weeks? I only ask because I don't recall this kind of debate/discussion a year ago.

Robert2010 Suzuki GSX1250SEA
ÔÇ£If you get in too far over your head, remember - full throttle and make it spectacular!ÔÇØ http://www.yearroundriders.com

The rates in West Bend were all at $100/night or higher. They did not increase the rates because of our rally - - -> summertime is tourist season in Wisconsin, and if the motels wouldn't have filled up with BMW riders, they would have filled up with other tourists from out-of-stae.

As one owner told me, "Now, if you want to move your rally into January, and I can give you some GREAT rates."

Where's MOA?

I for one won't be going to Gillette because the motel rates are just outrageously higher than advertised at the WI rally - and I'm offended by gauging. But, I have no doubt that all available rooms will be occupied; as noted in this thread, market forces at work. That's fine for motel owners, but not so fine for the membership. When scouting for meeting venues, do MOA negotiators consider factoring in accommodation charges? Do they discuss the issue with prospective venue businesses? Do local accommodation rates play any role in the choice of a national rally?

[QUOTE=nortonrt;231587]I for one won't be going to Gillette because the motel rates are just outrageously higher than advertised at the WI rally -[QUOTE]

The rates should be the same as indicate in the flyer provided at the WI rally. There are blocks of rooms held for BMW MOA. The rates quoted immediately after the rally were due to the fact that hotels weren't booking more than 50 weeks out. Their rates are high, but as has already been said....that is their tourist season, and either we pay it or the tourists will. Unfortunate, but no different than event parking, event rates are higher, and this is an Event!

It's rates like those that make the $35 rally fee (free camping!) a fantastic deal.
I believe that's the option I'll take.

We're riding expensive motorcycles to a MAJOR national event. If you don't want to camp, quitcherbitchin', and pay up. Don't forget the Sherpa option. If you don't own the equipment, or don't feel like strapping it to your bike for this trip, then consider using Sherpa to provide your camping gear.

I don't like price gouging any more than anyone else, but I think I understand why it happens in the hotel industry. It's been explained by others already.

I stayed four nights at a really nice Inn in Cedarburg, WI for the West Bend Rally. It was a short 15-minute ride from the rally site, and it cost about $80/night, including breakfast, and some wine and "nibbles" at 5:00. They even packed me "breakfast to go" for the days I left early to sign up for demo rides. It was a great town, a great place to stay, and a good value.

After the rally, I headed to California, two-up with my wife, for a five-week/8,000-mile cross-continent ride. We've just returned. During our journey, we stayed in all manner of places, in all sorts of cities/towns across the U.S., including places like Sedona, AZ, and Sausalito CA (just across the bay from San Fran). We have a good feel for room rates in prime tourist season, i.e., July/August.

I've just flipped through the Gillette hotel listings handed out in West Bend, and I've just checked a few online. I'd be hard pressed to call them good value. Rip-off, I don't know, but Sedona, or Sausalito, it ain't. I've ridden through it twice in the last three months, and my wife and I grabbed a coffee at Starbucks in Gillette just a few weeks ago. I have some idea what the city is like. Hospitable is not a word that immediately comes to mind.

I'm not a camper, and don't plan to start now, just so I can say I went to Gillette. I think I'll probably give this one a miss. When you add the room rates to the location, it just doesn't add up in my mind. This is not meant as a criticism of those who work hard to select a site. This one just doesn't work for me.

What is , is.

Originally Posted by marcopolo

I stayed four nights at a really nice Inn in Cedarburg, WI for the West Bend Rally. It was a short 15-minute ride from the rally site, and it cost about $80/night, including breakfast, and some wine and "nibbles" at 5:00. They even packed me "breakfast to go" for the days I left early to sign up for demo rides. It was a great town, a great place to stay, and a good value.

After the rally, I headed to California, two-up with my wife, for a five-week/8,000-mile cross-continent ride. We've just returned. During our journey, we stayed in all manner of places, in all sorts of cities/towns across the U.S., including places like Sedona, AZ, and Sausalito CA (just across the bay from San Fran). We have a good feel for room rates in prime tourist season, i.e., July/August.

I've just flipped through the Gillette hotel listings handed out in West Bend, and I've just checked a few online. I'd be hard pressed to call them good value. Rip-off, I don't know, but Sedona, or Sausalito, it ain't. I've ridden through it twice in the last three months, and my wife and I grabbed a coffee at Starbucks in Gillette just a few weeks ago. I have some idea what the city is like. Hospitable is not a word that immediately comes to mind.

I'm not a camper, and don't plan to start now, just so I can say I went to Gillette. I think I'll probably give this one a miss. When you add the room rates to the location, it just doesn't add up in my mind. This is not meant as a criticism of those who work hard to select a site. This one just doesn't work for me.

Too bad there isn't a Sherpa Mayberry of motorhomes...because the way the boxelder campground is set up, there is great bathrooms, full bathrooms, nice showers with individual drains in the floor (not a pee and pube conveyor belt like in west bend, I might add!) set up throughout the campground. Very clean, and very nice. ALL spaces were electric, and had wireless internert access.

Should someone hint to Sherpa Mayberry to "borrow" a few of the unused rigs somewhere (maybe in NewOrleans haha) for a week or so, just charge a bit less than the going motel rate in Gillette? I doubt if this would work, and this may sound like a wild idea, but that's why youall let new guys on the forum! We don't think, we just bitch and dream! (another haha)

Now as far as hospitality in Gillette...a couple things to factor into your experience here. This town is used to a bunch of to and from Sturgis Harley Guys parading into their town, oogling their daughters, recruiting their young men into "harleydom" getting liquored up and causing trouble and those damn loud pipes! No wonder you got a different reception, you are riding one of them motorbikes too!..OR could it be the stange high viz Aerostich suit we Beemer guys are so known to wear? Possibly the full face flip up helmet with the microphone bobbing like a Michael Jacksoon stage prop, funny little black elf boots, we (the BMW fashion statement) are a bit of a stare! And don't forget, to the general poulation, these fancy pants BMW's with their loaded farkles smell of "rich guy" and by golly, us small town fellas might just take a bit of offense to you uppity rich folk! Give these folks a bit of time to realise that highviz yellow is a ok color, and let it sink in that if each fully outfitted Beemer guy or gal drops 20.00 or 30.00 or 40.00 at their establishment day in and day out at their place of biz, for two days before and all during the rally, and another 20 or 30 on the way out of town and do this without Guys parading into their town oogling their daughters, recruiting their young men into the evils of "harleydom" their reception might just improve! Money talks!

I saw a huge difference in attitude on two evenings I ate out there, one dressed in my Joe rocket high viz and one night in levis and an old t shirt. Hospitality reined high in the levis, and stares of disbelif in the high viz...
Don't not come cause of perceived hospitality, these folks are my kind of folks, but arn't used to BMW trash quite yet! You gotta admit, we are quite a site to see! (got to take a moment to laugh at ourselves here!)

Sorry about the hotels...I wish I had a better answer, maybe BMWMOA could negotiate before hand at the next rally? (hinsite is a woinnerful thing) live and learn, still hope to see you there.

Typical hotel rooms in citys go for 300+ a night. It's supply and demand. They'll have 100% occupancy at rally time, and they know it. Travelers passing thru without reservations will have to move on. That's why communities love to have groups like ours.... They make money, we have a good time.
robert '04gs '00rt '07st1300

I've stayed at the New York Hilton, 6th Ave and 53rd St in the spring. Great rooms for under $200 a night. The Hilton Anatole in Dallas was $93.00 a night. The Hilton in San Francisco was $153.00 a night. All were first rate.

Gillette motels

Having put together a few Nationals I think I can say something about hotel rates in the host venue area.

Lots of people are complaining about the MOA not being able to regulate the room rates or not negotiating a better deal or a group rate for our attendees.
As others have pointed out, market forces are at play here, the laws of supply and demand. Our demand will occupy the entire available supply, therefore the supplier sets the price.

In Charleston, the supply exceeded the demand and yet we still occupied over 3,500 rooms at very reasonable rates. The same was true in Vermont. Hotels in both venues were offering the MOA discounted room blocks if we would mention their location on our web site and in the ON. It was a bargining tool I could use for the MOA member's benefit.......Hello Group Sales Lodging Manager...look at our great web site, look at our great monthly magazine, look at the fact that there are more rooms than we need in the immediate area, look at your room occupied (albeit at a discounted rate), imagine your room empty during a gathering of 7,000-8,000 people in your area. What sort of discount would you like to offer our members?

Unfortunately that is not always the case at all Nationals, nor is it at this one.

The only way BMW MOA can negotiate a lower rate for our general membership where demand exceeds supply is for the MOA to book the rooms as a block with the MOA credit card at least a year in advance. Do the math. Example: 3,500 rooms @ $100/day = $350,000/day x 3 days = $1,050,000 on the MOA credit card for a year in advance...plus the interest!

Wait, is that the sound of Bob Malehorn's head exploding I'm hearing?????

Motel Reservations in Gillette

I was in the hotel industry (co-owner) for over 38 years and we never required advance deposits a year in advance. Additionally, we negotiated rate and caps that were fair to everyone. It was just good business. (Matter of fact many years ago, the MOA BOD used to have its meetings at my hotel, but those were the early days when the organization was in its infancy)

But now we are in the day of the MBA! Bottom line, maximize profits, employees as just a line item, cut benefits to receive a bonus, and the list goes on. (Guess it was time for me to get out of the business in 2001)

"Gouging" is not a good way to bring back repeat customers. I understand Wisconsin as a destination, but Gillette? (hardly) I know the laws of supply and demand. But we must look at what's reasonable and affordable for our membership. As I stated in my earlier post many don't camp, won't camp, and can't camp. (And don't give me quityourbitchin!)

My wife and I stayed in a beautiful Holiday Inn with an indoor pool in Lima for $79.00/night at that rally. Now that was reasonable! Lima again, not a destination!

"Gouging" is not a good way to bring back repeat customers. I understand Wisconsin as a destination, but Gillette? (hardly) I know the laws of supply and demand. But we must look at what's reasonable and affordable for our membership.

I doubt they are worrying about repeat customers. How many people would want to return to Gillette regardless of the price?

'You can say what you want about the South, but I almost never hear of anyone wanting to retire to the North.

I doubt they are worrying about repeat customers. How many people would want to return to Gillette regardless of the price?

oh mi gawd...You guys, not everything that is gold glitters as it glitters east of the Mississippi!

First and foremost I have learned about rallies in my short time:

You come primarily for the people you know and the people you most assuredly will meet

You come to discover new areas you have never ridden.

You come to buy farkles

You come to galk at other bikes (I know I did!)

I rode (not came through on a cage) Gillette in July/August and surrounding country, and had a blast. I speak with that experience. You guys are moaning about something you know not, and are shooting off your mouth, influencing many
on pure speculation and ruining the inevitable location for many. Gillette it is, can't and won't change, so COWBOY UP HERE!

Would I set a desintination to West Bend? No more than I would set a final destination of Gillette! Duh! No! But did I come to a Rally there, have a blast at the rally and have a blast riding?yes! When it was announced that Gillette was the 08 rally site, I had some fun with the location sort of "tounge in cheek" type of complaining (Coyte butts post) but even somebody with as low of IQ as me got real after a bit, and stopped joking around when I could see in the posts my joking was having a negitive affect on my MOA brothern and their attitude towards the next rally! Where is your IQ? What do you value here?

THE NON_CAMPERS HAVE A GOOD ARGUMENT AND POINT, but I have paid way too much for a hotel many times in the past when I could see the value of being there, so if you don't see the value, I guess you wont come! But don't undervalue the location to justify why your not coming to Gillette when money is the only issue!